Wheel cover structure and assembly



Feb. 1,1944. s. A. LYON Re.'22,428

WHEEL COVER STRUCTURE AND ASSEMBLY Original Filed Jan. 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l G'Eaec: lfiamlr lye/v. a% M Eg Feb. 1, 1944. s. A. LYON WHEEL COVER STRUCTURE AND ASSEMBLY Original Filed Jan. 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I II. II

' Y J" Grace: rhea-er Zrom.

fig.

Reissue d Feb. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rial No. 314,819,

January 20, 1 940. Application for reissue June '2', 1943, Serial No. 489,379

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a wheel cover structure and assembly, and more particularly to a novel wheel member or wheel cover which cooperates with a vehicle wheel in a novel manner and which has an annular series of openings therein through which a portion of the wheel may be seen.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application for wheel disk structure," Serial No. 80,395, filed May 18, 1936, now matured into Patent No. 2,231,930, issued February 18, 1941.

The wheel cover structure or cover member may be in the form of a wheel disk or a trim ring. The wheel disk may either be in the form of an enlarged hub cap or it may be in the form of an annulus which partially covers the front face of a wheel.

The majority of vehicle wheels of today are equipped with ornamental wheel members or covers which extend over a. portion of their outer surfaces. These wheel members or covers are usually provided with a highly polished exterior surface. It has been found desirable in certain instances'to provide wheel cover structures or members having openings therein through which a portion of the wheel may be seen. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel structure of this character which cooperates with and which is secured to the wheel in a novel manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel wheel cover structure or member having an annular series of openingstherein formed by striking out an annular series of tangs from the member which tangs are bent back to form an attaching means for securing the member to the wheel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel wheel member formed of relatively thin sheet material for disposition on one face of a wheel which is economical to manufacture which may be readily and quickly assembled on the wheel in substantially permanent engagement therewith and which is rugged and reliable in use.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel wheel cover structure or member having an annular portion thereof lying in intimate contact with a face of a wheel on which the member is mounted, and which portion is provided with an annular series of openings through which the wheel may be seen.

Another and still further object of the inven tion-i the provision of a wheel disk having und'erturned means for bitingly engaging the wheel adjacent ventilation openings in the wheel, the disk also having ventilation openings therein adjacent the means in communication with the openings on the wheel.

It is also a. feature of this invention to provide a wheel cover member member or wheel disk for use on a wheel having ventilation open ings, in which the disk extends over the side surface of the wheel in both directions beyond the openings on the wheel, the disk being provided with a series of openings adjacent those on the wheel to form an ornamental appearance on the disk and also to permit circulation of air through the disk and the wheel.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a wheel cover member or disk wherein the ventilation openings in the member are formed by striking toothlike elements from the member for biting engagement with the wheel to hold the member thereon.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner of constructiom'together with further objects andadvantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure '1 is a vertical sectional view of a vehi cle wheel and cover assembly;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front view of a portion of the wheel and wheel cover assembly;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the upper portion of the wheel and wheel cover assembly in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 3 showing a modified form of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a vehicle wheel and cover assembly illustrating a different embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, 'of the wheel and cover assembly shown in Figure 5 and as viewed along the line VI- VI of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper end portion of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the staggered section line VIII-VIII of Figure 6.

Referring now to the embodiment of the present invention which is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and-3,- there isshown awheel assembly comprising a vehicle wheel I!) and a Wheel cover or trim 29 may be highly polished instead or both the ring II. The wheel Ill comprises a rim part l2 trim ring H and the wheel l may be painted or and a body part l3. The rim [2 is of the usual enamelled,

drop center type and includes a base flange M, In Figur 4 of the drawings I have illustrated opposite intermediate side flanges l5 opposite in- 5 a modification of the trim ring shown in Figures termediate base flanges l6 and opposite edge por- 1 to 3. More particularly, a trim ring I3 is protions l1. The drop center rim [2 as illustrated vided having a principal body portion 32 which is of the type commonly employed in the autois seated on and lie in intimate contact with motive vehicle art of the present day, and, as I the intermediate side flange I5 of the rim I2. is well known to those skilled in the art, is aris The trim ring 3| also includes an inner beaded ranged to receive and accommodate a pneumatic portion 33 and an outer extended marginal p01- tire (not shown). tion 34. This extended marginal portion 34, in- The body part l3 and wheel ID includes, instead of being a simple bead as is shown in Figgeneral, a rearwardly extending outer flange l8, ures 1 to 3, is arranged to extend radially i an outer web portion 19, a generally axially rearwardly of' the intermediate base flange I6 of the wardly and slightly radially inwardly extending rim l2 and around the outer corner thereof into inner web portion 20, and-a radially inwardly engagementwith the outer edge portion l'i of the extending wheel mounting flange 2|. The rearrim I2. The radial outer edge of the marginal wardly extending outer flange I8 is secured to portion 34 of the trim ring 3| is inturned as at the underside of the base flange 14 of the rim to 35.

I2 in any suitable manner, such as by welding The principal body portion 32 of the trim ring or riveting (not shown). Th circumferentially s pr v d d with an annular series of aperspaced portions of the flange I5 are depressed tures which will form by striking out tangs radially inwardly as at 22 to permit circulation 'L These gs r toothlike p ojections are bent of air through the wheel. The rear edges 23 of around to extend obliquely radially outwardly .the depressed portion 22 are cut back as is clear and axially forwardly of the wheel and are of ly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. such length that when the trim ring 3! is mount- The wheel mounting flange 2| is provided with ed on the wheel ID the tangs or finger-like proan annular series of apertures 24 for the recep- J'ections 31 extend into biting engagement with tion of the usual wheel mounting bolts (not 39 the intermediate base flange I5 of the rim [2. shown), which bolts are arranged to extend there- In Figures 5 to 8 of the drawings I have illusthrough and to engagement with the hub portrated a difierent embodiment of the present intion or brake drum of the vehicle (not shown). ,vention which is shown mounted on a vehicle The wheel cover or trim ring ll includes a wheel including a rim of the drop center type, principal body portion 26 which is seated on :55 enerally indicated by the numeral 4|, comprisand lies in intimate contact with the intermediing a base flange 42, intermediate flange 43-43, ate side flange l5 of the rim l2 and inner and and side edges 44-44, all integrally connected in outer beaded marginal portions 21 and 28 rethe usualmanner. spectively. The principal body portion 26 has The wheel also includes a body part, generally an annular series of apertures 29 Figure 2) J5) indicated by the numeral 45, which is provided formed therein by striking out tangs 30. These with the usual fastening flange 4E, apertured as tan-gs or toothlik projections 30 are bent to exat 47 to Provide a hub Opening for the tend obliquely radially outwardly and axially for- Outside the hub opening, the flange is also wardly of the wheel and in such a position are provided with a series of apertures for the acdisposed behind the outer beaded portion 28 as is 45 CQmmodation of fastening means, such as bolts clearly shown in Figuresl and 3. 48, by means of whichthe wheel may be fas- The tangs or toothlike projections 30 are of toned to a vehicle part, such as a brake drum such length that when the trim ring II is forced 49 or a spare wheel carrier, as the case may be, onto the wheel ID, the tangs or toothlike projec- The outer portion of the body part is turned tions 30 make a biting engagement with the in- 50 n y to f m a fla ge 50 attached to the termediate base flange I5 of the rim I2. An base flange of the rim in any suitable manner, examination of Figure 3 will show that any tendsuch as byrivets 5|. This body part is further ency for the trim ring H to becom dislodged provided with a plurality of resilient retaining from the wheel III will only cause the tangs or elements 52 projecting substantially in an axial finger-like projections 30 to bite more deeply into direction from the wheel for engagement in the metal in the ri I2. It will thus be undersnap-on fashion over the inner rolled edge 53 stood that the trim ring II is ruggedly mounted of a hub cap 54. e on and secured to the wheel III for it is'only by Between the fastening flange 46 and the rim rupturing or partially rupturing or bending the engaging flange 50, a body part is provided with fingers or tangs 30 that the trim ring Il may be atortuous partof varying conflguration, asindiremoved from the wheel I!) after it has once been cated at 55, terminating in a shoulder against unt t r n, which apart of the hub cap rests. Adjacent the It will further be observed that the annular rim, preferably in that region where the vary-. series of openings 29 in the trim ring ll permit ing part 55 merges into the flange Ill, the'body portions of the front face of; the wheel to be part is provided with an annular series of elonseen. This provides a very striking ornamental gated apertures 56 providing openings through appearance since the trim ring ll may b given whichair may freely circulate to 'cool the brake a highly polished exterior finish and the interdrum j49. l mediate flange l 5 of the rim l 2 may be enamelled The wheel disk'which is shown in Figures 5, 6

any suitable color which provides a, striking conand 7 includesa disk part or annulus 51, preftrast to the highly polished exterior surface of erably made of metallic sheet material and inthe trim ring II whenviewed through the opencludes a body portion 58 which intimately over-- ings 29. The trim ll may of course be enamelled lies the tortuous surface of the body part 55.

or otherwise painted and the portion of the wheel The disk is substantially in the form of an ansurface which is exposed through the openings 74; nulus. and extends as is indicated at 59 beneath;

the hub cap 1, which aids in holding this part of the disk in tight cooperation with the wheel. The disk 51 is provided with an annular groove or indentation 60 adjacent the junction point turned toothlike projections 63 for biting engagement with the body part of the wheel. The biting projection of the toothlike elements or projections 53 is preferably made immediately adjacent theseries of apertures 56 in the body part of the wheel. It will also be noted from an inspection of Figure 8 that each projection 63 is preferably of such size as to extend beyond the adjacent aperture or opening 56 so that it is impossible for the projection to catch inside the opening when placing the disk upon the wheel' These projections are integral with the disk and are preferably struck directly from the disk leaving a plurality of openings 64 in the disk.

As may be best seen in Figure '1, the projections 63 are underturned in the manner of an inverted U to provide an interior passage, '55 which establishes communication in each instance between the openings 54 in the disk and the corresponding openings 56 in the wheel.

It will be noted that the projections 63 are of such size as to extend beyond the openings 5% in the wheel, and that while the openings 64 in the disk are substantially in alignment with the openings 55 of the wheel, nevertheless a rather tortuous passage is effected by means of the projections 63 so that it is difiicult for dirt or debris to find its way through the wheel.

With reference to Figure 5, it will be seen that while the openings 64 in the disk are visible from the outer side of the disk, the present arrangement is such that these openings do not detract from the appearance of the wheel but rather enhance the general appearance. In other words, the annular series of openings 64 permit portions of the wheel to be seen through the disk or annulus. Since the disk or annulus is preferably made with a highly polished exterior surface it will be understood that by painting the wheel with an enamel or the like behind the openings (54 in the disk 51 a distinctive contrast may be made with the highly polished exterior surface of the disk 51. This provides a wheel of very striking appearance.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will, course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vehicle wheel and ornamental member assembly the combination comprising a wheel having rim and body parts and a trim ring mounted on said rim part, said trim ring including an annular portion seated on and lying in intimate contact with one face of said rim part and a marginal portion of arcuate crosssection, said annular portion of said trim ring having a plurality of attaching fingers struck therefrom and bent back to extend obliquely axially forwardly behind said marginal portion and into biting engagement with said wheel, said trim ring having an annular series of apertures therein where said attaching fingers have been struck therefrom through which portions of said wheel may be seen.

2. In a vehicle wheel and ornamental member assembly, the combination comprising a wheel having .rim and body parts and an ornamental annulus mounted on the outer face of said wheel and extending over a portion of said rim part and over a portion of said body part, said ornamental annulus having a plurality of attaching ears struck therefrom and bent back on said annulus to extend obliquely radially inwardly and axially forwardly into biting engagement with said body part of said wheel, said ears being struck from said ornamental annulus in an annular region lying opposite said rim part whereby an annular series of apertures are provided in said annulus through which portions of said rim part may be seen.

3. In a vehicle wheel and ornamental member assembly, the combination comprising a wheel and an ornamental annulus mounted on the outer face thereof, said annulus including an annular portion seated on and lying in intimate contact with an adjacent portion of said wheel, said annular portion of said annulus having a plurality of attaching fingers struck therefrom and bent back to provide an annular series of openings through which portions of said wheel may be seen, said fingers being shaped to retain said annulus on said wheel.

4. In combination, a wheel having a metallic rim and a metallic body part with openings in said body part adjacent the rim to permit air circulation through the wheel, and an ornamental disk having means on the inner side thereof for bitingly engaging the wheel adjacent said openings, and said disk also having openings therein disposed immediately above said biting means in communication with the openings in the wheel, said disk extending radially beyond the openings in the wheel.

5. As an article of manufacture, an ornamental disk for disposition over the side surface of a vehicle wheel, said disk being formed of sheet material and including inwardly turned tooth-like portions arranged for biting engagement with an outer relatively smooth surface of the body part of the wheel near the rim of the wheel, said disk being provided with ventilation openings spaced adially outwardly of said tooth-like portions.

6. As an article of manufacture, an ornamental disk for disposition over the outer side surface of a metallic vehicle wheel, said disk being made of sheet material and arranged to overlie both the body and rim parts of the wheel, and radially inwardly turned tooth-like projections struck from said disk at points spaced inwardly from the outer edge thereof for biting engagement with the body part of the wheel adjacent the rim to hold the disk on the wheel, the openings left by the formation of said projections affording ventilation therethrough for the brake drum of the wheel.

'7. As an article of manufacture, an ornamental disk for overlying the outer side surface of a vehicle wheel provided with openings for brake drum ventilation, said disk being made of sheet material and having a plurality of spaced radially inwardly turned tooth-like elements struck from the disk proper at points spaced inwardly from the outer edge in an intermediate part to provide means to hold the disk on the wheel and also provide a series of openings for communication with the openings in the wheel.

8. In a vehicle wheel and ornamental member assembly, the combination comprising a wheel having rim and body parts and an ornamental sheet member for disposition on the outer face of the wheel, said sheet member having an annular series of attaching fingers struck therefrom and bent back behind said member to extend obliquely axially forwardly into biting engagement with said wheel, whereby said member is substantially permanently mounted on said wheel, said member having an annular series of apertures therein where said attaching fingers have been struck therefrom through which portions of the wheel may be seen.

9. In a vehicle wheel and cover assembly, the combination comprising a wheel having a. finished surface and an ornamental circular cover of sheet material comprising an annular part at the outer peripheral margin thereof formed to provide an outwardly convex bead, an intermediate annular portion adjacent said bead and an annular part disposed radially inwardly of said intermediate part and formed to provide an outwardly convex bead, said annular intermediate part having a plurality of attaching fingers struck therefrom and bent back to extend obliquely, axially forwardly behind the member and into retaining engagement with said surface of the wheel with which the cover is associated and having a plurality of apertures therein where said attaching fingers have been struck therefrom, through which face may be seen.

10. In a vehicle wheel and cover assembly, the combination comprising a wheel having an outer face and a circular cover comprising a member formed from sheet material and including inner and outer peripheral margins formed to provide outwardly disposed convex beads and having an intermediate, annular portion arranged to overlie a portion of said outer face of a wheel with which the cover is associated, said intermediate portion having an annular series of wheel attaching fingers struck therefrom and bent back behind said cover to provide an annular series of openings in said member through which portions of the associated wheel face may be seen, said fingers extending obliquely, axially, forwardly to provide biting engagement with an associated wheel for assembly purposes.

11. In a vehicle wheel and ornamental member assembly, the combination comprising a wheel having rim and body parts and a circular ornamental sheet member having retaining means for securing it in disposition on the outer face of the wheel, said circular ornamental member having an annular part arranged to conceal a portion of the outer face of the wheel and an integral annular part having means arranged so that a portion of the outer face of the wheel is visible therethrough, said latter part being fiushly supported in direct contact with the face portions of said wheel surof the wheel and said other part being spaced l from the wheel.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

